Emmanuel Ifeanyi 
Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti on Saturday began the clearance and demolition of shanties at the Aba river bank to drive out suspected criminal elements in the area and for proper work to begin for the reconstruction of the abandoned Enyimba Hotel.
New Telegraph reports that the clearance and demolition of the shanties was a joint operation of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Operation Crush in conjunction with the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA).
Addressing journalists on the joint operation, Assistant Commandant Emma Ogbuehi Retired, said that the Governor authorized that all illegal structures and shanties within the environment of Enyimba Hotel should be demolished to smoothen the efforts towards the recovery of the Hotel.
Ogbuehi who represented Commander McDonald Ubah Retired, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security said that aside from the soon-to-be-recovered Enyimba Hotel, reducing the activities of all criminal elements in the area to the bearest minimum is also a major reason for the demolition around the Aba river bank.
He explained that inasmuch as the demolition is a warn-off thing, the joint security team will maintain a security presence in the area to ensure that the criminal elements do not return to the area anymore.
Ogbuehi explained that the Enyimba Hotel and its environs were originally designed to be a beautiful tourist centre, with the river banks expected to form something in the mode of a beach where recreation activities are expected to take place.
He explained that the demolition exercise was not an impromptu one, as those illegally occupying the river banks either as a business centre or residency have been warned severally to vacate the location, but the order was ignored.
Ogbuehi assured that efforts are in top gear to ensure that Abia continues to enjoy the peace it has been known for, as such efforts will always be intensified to ensure that all residents and visitors enjoy a peaceful and serene environment.
